Carnegie Mellon University

The Piper

CMU Community News

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July 30, 2015

News Briefs

CFA Lot Is Being Reconfigured

Facilities Management Services is reconfiguring the College of Fine Arts parking lot to add 10 more parking spaces and to maximize space in anticipation of Spring Carnival 2016, which will be held on the CFA lot and CFA lawn.

During construction, which is expected to last through the week of Aug. 17, the south side of the lot closest to the Posner Center will be available for parking, but the north side adjacent to the tennis courts will be unavailable. Permit holders are being relocated to the East Campus Garage while work is in progress.

Questions on the reconfiguration should be directed to the FMS Service Response Center at 412-268-2910 or fixit@andrew.cmu.edu.

Questions about parking should be directed to the Parking Office at 412-268-2052 or parking@andrew.cmu.edu.

Wean Hall PlazaWean Hall Plaza Closed Through Aug. 30

Access to the Wean Hall Plaza from Hamerschlag Hall, Porter Hall and Wean Hall will remain closed until Aug. 30 to expedite work on the waterproofing and restoration project. Only emergency access to the plaza will be permitted.

Work hours will be from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 4 p.m. to midnight. Questions? Contact Max Dorosa at 412-527-5619.

Find out more about the project. 

Finance Division Presents Poster at NACUBO Annual Meeting

Members of the Finance Division attended the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) annual conference July 18-21 in Nashville, Tenn. At the event, the Finance Division displayed and presented a poster highlighting efficiencies resulting from its Strategic Plan Priority Projects. A copy of the poster is available on the Finance Division website.

Built around the theme “The Tempo of Change,” the NACUBO 2015 Annual Meeting underscored the reality of today’s higher education environment: new models of success require nimble, knowledgeable teams paired with the right resources.

Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Selects Innovation Scholars

The Undergraduate Innovation Scholars Program attracts the next generation of innovative thinkers and seeks to increase the number of successful startup companies involving undergraduate students.

This program, organized by the Carnegie Mellon Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and created through an endowment from the McCune Foundation, gives scholars the opportunity to complete a two-year program that integrates academic coursework, work experience in a startup company, professional networking and mentorship.

Benefits of being a scholar include invitations to entrepreneurial events, Spark Grants for specific projects, networking opportunities with entrepreneurs and mentorship from current Innovation Scholars. Scholars also benefit from an internship at a startup company and a grant to attend a Silicon Valley trek during winter break.

The program recently announced its second group of scholars, representing the College of Engineering, the College of Fine Arts, the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the School of Computer Science and the Tepper School of Business.

The 2015-2016 Undergraduate Innovation Scholars are all members of the Class of 2017. They are:

  • John Choi, School of Computer Science and College of Fine Arts;
  • Jonathan “JD” Dyer, College of Engineering;
  • Matthew Hillman, Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences;
  • David Lu, School of Computer Science;
  • Michael Mawhinney, Tepper School of Business;
  • Mohak Nahta, School of Computer Science and Tepper School of Business;
  • Hannah Salinas, College of Fine Arts;
  • Albert Topdijan, College of Fine Arts; and
  • Siddhant Wadhwa, School of Computer Science.

Find out more.

Help Center Reduces Hours Through Aug. 14

To prepare for the start of the 2015-16 academic year, the Computing Services Help Center will be operating under reduced phone and email support hours through Aug. 14. Hours of operation are as follows:

  • Phone and Email hours: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Monday - Friday); and
  • Walk-in hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Monday - Friday).

Phone and email support hours of 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. will resume Monday, Aug. 17. Please direct any questions or comments to the Computing Services Help Center at 412-268-HELP or it-help@cmu.edu.

Power Shutdown in Hamerschlag, Scaife and Roberts Halls

Hamerschlag HallFacilities Management Services and Campus Design and Facility Development have planned another full power shutdown affecting Hamerschlag Hall, Scaife Hall and Roberts Hall. 

The scheduled outage will be 7 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 4, through 7 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 5.

This is necessary to make high voltage power connections for the Scott Hall Project.

The power outage will impact all building systems not connected to the life safety generators. Therefore, the buildings will be closed during the outage.

If you have a special requirement that requires access into Hamerschlag Hall, Roberts Hall or Scaife Hall, you can obtain information on arranging a University Police escort by calling FMS Service Response at 412-268-2910.

CIC Drive To Close Aug. 8, 14 and 15

CIC Drive ClosureAs part of the work to add chillers for campus cooling on the Robert Mehrabian Collaborative Innovation Center (CIC), several shutdowns have been scheduled for CIC Drive between the CIC and Hamburg Hall. The shutdowns will affect vehicular and pedestrian traffic, parking and access to nearby buildings.

Saturday, Aug. 8, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
A crane will be assembled and used to lift steel to the roof of the CIC. Access to the Gates and Hillman centers, and Smith and Newell-Simon halls will be restricted from Forbes Avenue. All vehicular traffic and parking on CIC Drive will be prohibited. The sidewalk will be closed as well.

Friday and Saturday, Aug. 14-15, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
A crane will be assembled and used to lift piping and the new cooling towers to the roof of the CIC. Access to the Gates and Hillman centers, and Smith and Newell-Simon halls will be restricted from Forbes Avenue both days. All vehicular traffic and parking on CIC Drive will be prohibited, and the sidewalk will be closed as well.

Power Shutdown in Hamburg and Smith Halls, Aug. 8-9

There will be a total power shutdown in Hamburg Hall and Elliott Dunlap Smith Hall from 6 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 8, through 9 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 9.

This work is necessary to replace the main electrical switchgear, which is part of the work for the Hamburg Hall addition and renovations. All mechanical and network systems in the buildings will be turned off.

Campus police will be on site for security and fire watch and only authorized personnel will be permitted in Hamburg and Smith halls.

If you have any questions, contact Ed Hydzik at 412-527-5621 or eh0x@andrew.cmu.edu.

PSO Offers Discounts for Summer Concerts

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is offering discounts to upcoming shows at Heinz Hall. Students, faculty and staff receive a 10 percent discount off single ticket prices.

For all summer concerts in July and August, you can buy tickets to three concerts and receive 20 percent off the ticket price, or buy tickets to four or more concerts and receive 30 percent off the ticket price. Packaged ticket deals must be purchased in person at the Heinz Hall box office or by phone at 412-392-4900. Single tickets with the university discount can be purchased online.

Purchase tickets online.  

Discounts Available to Cedar Point, Sandcastle, Idlewild and Hershey Park

Staff Council is offering discounted tickets to CMU employees for Cedar Point, Sandcastle, Idlewild and Hershey Park. For ticket prices and purchasing information, go to Benefits & Discounts on the Staff Council website and click on Summer Discounts.

If you have any questions, please contact Sharon Cavlovich at sharonw@cmu.edu or Nicole Stenger at nstenger@cs.cmu.edu.